UVF decommissioning

For those who wonder if the Troubles are over for Northern Ireland the process continues. This is a significant milestone that weapons are being decommissioned by the loyalist paramilitary groups.

Whereas I am just an observer working as a volunteer in the Shankill Road community the report from the BBC comes as great news to me. Not because I have ever felt unsafe since moving here but because it is a political milestone, another building block in the rebuilding of civil society and true democracy. It is a sign that fear has been reduced and with freedom from fear the people might move on to love God and love all others.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8121842.stm

This is a good day!

What's on your mind?

The title question "What's on your mind" has replaced "you've got
mail"; well not replaced for some of us slow changers who still use
AOL. It is a unique concept on whichFacebook is premised, that your
friends want to know the answer to this question. So as some people
have 600 friends it is hard to believe all or even many of them would
be interested to read the dribble (Ward calls it popular culture; don't be offended) that mostly get posted to this question.

Alas we have also joined the crowd and try to keep something active on Facebook, as well as posting longer thoughts on our blog. We are feeling pressed to use our landline and mobile phones with live voices to friends near and far, keep our five email accounts answered, write a few letters, notes, cards and postcards, issue a monthly newsletter, update our website, see people, attend weekly commitments and events. This is all "comms" or communications.

Spiritually we talk to God personally, together, and with others. We listen to God by reading the Bible, and during prayer and meditation. Sometimes we hear God through the writing of others. At this time Marda is reading Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd. It's a wonderful exploration of the Sacred Feminine. We've only recently been made aware of the feminine attributed to the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Christian trinity.

Weather

It is raining today. Jerem and Conor came last Monday and brought California sun. We have had exceptional weather beautiful long days. The sun was up when we woke at 5 this morning, to take them to the airport. Today they left and it started to rain at 10 a.m. This was after I washed the car and hung a load of wash to dry. I had to run out to get the clothes off the line.

When we went to California in February it rained. Many people thanked us for the rain. Thank you Jerem and Conor for the sun!

He is risen. He is not here. Mk 16:6

Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

These are common phrases with which Christians greet each other especially during the Easter season. For Ward and I the Easter season is year round because without the resurrection all our faith would be in vain. The resurrection is our reconciliation and our joy.

Although it has been difficult to figure out what is on and what is off during these two weeks of Easter break, we have appreciated the free days to do other things beyond our normal routine. We took a bus trip to Rosapenna in Co Donegal, saw a play in the Opera House, and visited or contacted a few extra people. Refreshed we return to our routine and anticipate God’s kingdom work with joy. Monday, Tea Talk and Pray at Edenbrooke Primary School.

He is risen!

Birthdays

Marda here, today is the second day of my 65th year of life. Yesterday, I celebrated my 64th birthday and remember well that the Beattles memorialized this birthday long ago and many baby boomers will follow wondering how we got so old. 64 is not old, well, it is not as old as it used to be, relative to lifespan and opportunities. So do something important, keep well, enjoy your life and your celebrations.

March winds

I'm quite aware that you may read the title as March winds as in "winds up" but I am in fact talking about the stuff that blows. We are getting quite a bit of wind and then we will get April showers. So as we took the rains with us on our short trip to California during which everyone praised us since there had been a drought, we are happy to return to Belfast where it doesn't rain continuously just periodically. In fact the sun is out today and we get credited with bringing the sun back from California.

Never give in to the jetlag notion of just a short nap. It will only prolong the problem. Since I returned with a cough I gave in to naps to rest and that caused me to wake up at 4 in the morning for a week. Then my cough became vertigo. So I have prolonged a day's transition into a week and a half of slow motion sluggish existance.

This makes up for the 200 miles per hour that I was clocking in Berkeley.

A new tradition

2009 is well along and hope over fear is the prevailing theme. We have transitioned through the holidays to embrace the new era of uncertainty, continued conservations, and hopeful outcomes. Our holidays were quiet but joy full. We sent Christmas cards with newsletters, and packages to the States. Some arrived before Thanksgiving and others last week. All were mailed in early November.

We took an Ulster Bus tour to Killarney for five days. The scenery was beautiful and the time of year brilliant. The week before Christmas the driver said 400 people came to the hotel on ten buses of 40 each. Our bus had 22 and the hotel was quiet. The first day we visited Tralee where Ward got a new wool cap, and then Killarney where Marda bought some gifts. The second day we toured clockwise around the Dingle Peninsula and spent time at Inch strand, the Blaskets, then in Dingle. The third day we drove counterclockwise around the ring of Kerry, stopping in Waterville and Sneem and photo stops for views of the Gap of Dunloe, Muckross House and Ross Castle. Food was great and company as well. We were blessed with no rain and no crowds.

So at least while we can and while we are in Ireland we may plan to continue this tradition but the pound was weak against the Euro so while lunches were dear the set price for the tour including bus, room rate and meals at the hotel were a bargain. I suspect the price will go up next year on the tours to euro based countries.